Ground stake for deterring driven vehicles

ABSTRACT

A ground stake for deterring driven vehicles consists of an integral, unitary body with an upper section, a lower section, and an elongated intermediate section. The lower section consists of a ground piercing rod member with an anchoring element adapted to be compelled into the ground to maintain the stake in an immobile position within the ground on real property. The upper section provides the appearance of a decorative stake with a pointed upstanding tip, giving the observer the impression that the stake is solid metal which will cause damage to any vehicle driven onto the property. In actuality, both the upper section and intermediate section, which interconnects the upper and lower sections, are made of a bendable, pliable material which, upon impact with the tires of a vehicle, will give way and bend. Thus, the ground stake, by appearing to extend up as a solid metal stake, will deter drivers. Nevertheless, it is actually safe for cars and individuals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fences, large rocks, masonry curbs and railroad ties are some of themost common obstacles utilized to prevent individuals from driving ontothe real private property of others. The knowledge that driving into orover this type of rigid obstacle will damage the vehicle obviouslydiscourages drivers from doing so and, as a result, the property isprotected.

However, in many situations there are no rigid obstacles installedbetween the accepted driving surface, (e.g. street, driveway, parkinglot) and private property, and often the property owner does not wish toinstall barriers on the property. In such circumstances, it is notuncommon that vehicles are driven onto property adjacent to the accepteddriving surface, e.g. as a result of recklessness, to make a u-turn,with some malicious intent, or otherwise. Driving onto private propertywill usually result in damage to the grass, flowers, bushes and thelandscape in general, not to mention presenting a real risk of physicalharm to individuals on the property.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a ground stakedevice which will deter the vehicle owner from driving his or her car,truck, or other vehicle over private property which is located adjacentto the road or other legally permitted driving surface.

It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a ground stakefor deterring driven vehicles which presents the appearance of being asolid, upwardly extending metal stake, likely to cause severe tire orother vehicle damage if driven over by a vehicle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a ground stakewhich, while it presents the appearance of being a solid metal stake, isactually made of bendable, pliable material which is both safe forvehicles and individuals.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a groundstake which, when installed on property, will not result in a visibleobstruction to the property.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a groundstake for deterring driven vehicles which is easily and economicallymanufactured and, in use, is simple to install.

It is a further object of the present invention to visually communicatethat the property owner's intent is to prevent vehicle traffic in thestaked area, even after drivers become aware that the stakes areharmless.

These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, aground stake for deterring driven vehicles which comprises an integral,unitary body with an upper section, a lower section, and an elongatedintermediate section. The lower section consists of a ground piercingrod member with an anchoring element adapted to be compelled into theground to maintain the stake in an immobile position within the groundon real property. The upper section provides the appearance of adecorative stake with a pointed upstanding tip, giving the observer theimpression that the stake is solid metal which will cause damage to anyvehicle driven onto the property. In actuality, both the upper sectionand intermediate section, which interconnects the upper and lowersections, are made of a bendable, pliable material which, upon impactwith the tires of a vehicle, will give way and bend. Thus, the groundstake, by appearing to extend up as a solid metal stake, will deterdrivers. Nevertheless, it is actually safe for cars and individuals.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use,together with additional features and advantages thereof, are bestunderstood upon review of the following detailed description withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the ground stake of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the ground stake of the present invention in use onreal property as a deterrence for driven vehicles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Ground stake 1 of the present invention is an integral, unitary bodycomprising upper section 2 with pointed tip 8, elongated intermediatesection 4, and lower section 6. Upper section 2 can extend upward as asingle, unadorned member or it can be configured with a decorativedesign, to which the current invention is not to be consideredrestricted. Any upstanding member, whether unadorned or ornamental inconfiguration is contemplated. Critical to the invention, however, isthat upper section 2 comprises pointed, upstanding tip 8.

Lower section 6 comprises ground piercing member 10 having sharp endpoint 12. Extending from ground piercing member 10 is anchoring element14, which assists in restricting the mobility of ground stake 1, oncelower section 6 penetrates and is compelled into the ground. Structuralrib member 16 may be incorporated into ground piercing member 10 foradded strength. Top surface 13 of ground piercing member 10 providesdirect vertical access to allow ease of installation of ground stake 1.Receiving element 18 extends laterally from ground piercing member 10for accepting and joining intermediate section 4 to lower section 6.Intermediate section 4 can be permanently secured within receivingsection 18, or configured to be removeable therefrom, if it is desiredthat the lower section remain in the ground while only the intermediatesection and upper sections are to be removed.

Once again the invention is not to be considered restricted to thatwhich is depicted as lower section 6. It is contemplated that any groundpiercing, anchor configuration e.g. screw type ground piercing/anchor,duck bill earth anchor, winged rod, or equivalent, can be used to setand rigidly maintain and anchor ground stake 1 in position in theground.

Elongated, intermediate section 4 interconnects upper section 2 andlower section 6, the intermediate section extending down from the uppersection and the lower section, in turn, extending down from theintermediate section.

Significantly, both upper section 2 and intermediate section 4 are madeof a sturdy, yet bendable, pliable material like flexible rubber, foamrubber or equivalent material. Lower section 6, including rod member 10and anchoring element 14, is made of a rigid material, preferably acorrosion and rust resistant metal or plastic. The materials used forground stake 1 will be able to withstand the demands of routine lawnmaintenance, e.g. use of weed wackers, fertilizing equipment, sprinklersystems, etc.

In use, as seen in FIG. 2, ground stakes 1 are positioned within ground20 of real property, by driving rod member 10 with sharp end point 12and anchoring element 14 into the ground. The full length of lowersection 6 is driven into the ground such that only upper sections 2 andintermediate sections 4 are exposed above the ground.

As shown in FIG. 2, it is anticipated that a plurality of ground stakes1 will be driven into and positioned within the ground of the realproperty to be protected. Once in place, ground stakes 1 present theappearance of being solid, upwardly extending metal stakes whose pointedtips 8 will cause severe tire damage if driven over by a vehicle. Thisappearance will provide a strong deterrent to driving vehicles onto thereal property grounds. In actuality, the bendable, pliable nature ofupper section 2 and intermediate section 4, ensures that ground stake 1is safe, presenting no risk of damage to vehicles or injury toindividuals who may come into contact with it.

To be effective for the use for which ground stake 1 is intended, thecombined length of upper section 2 and intermediate section 4 should bein a range between ten and eighteen inches. The combined length of uppersection 2 and intermediate section 4 must result in ground stake 1 beinghigh enough off the ground to allow the driver of a vehicle to clearlysee the stake and low enough to impart to the driver that there will besevere damage to the vehicle if it is driven over the stake. The lengthof lower section 6 should be sufficient to ensure that ground stake issecurely positioned within the ground. Representative lengths would bein the four to eight inch range.

Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed indetail in order to make the invention clear in at least one formthereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention asdisclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details asdisclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changesmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A ground stake for deterring the driving of vehicles onto realproperty comprising: an upper section having a pointed, upwardlyextending tip, said section being made of bendable, pliable material; anelongated intermediate section extending down from the upper section,said intermediate section also being made of bendable, pliable material;and a lower section extending down from the intermediate section, saidlower section having a ground piercing member, whereby when the stake ismounted within the ground, the pointed tip of the upper section extendsup to deter the driving of vehicles onto the real property, thebendable, pliable material of the upper and intermediate sectionsprecluding actual damage to the vehicle.
 2. The ground stake as in claim1 further comprising anchoring means for immoveably mounting the stakewithin the ground of real property
 3. The ground stake as in claim 1wherein the upper section is configured as a decorative design.
 4. Theground stake as in claim 2 wherein the anchoring means comprises ananchoring element extending from the ground piercing member.
 5. Theground stake as in claim 1 wherein the upper and intermediate sectionsare made of a flexible rubber material.